A special holiday message from Lise

 
This is my final Lise’s Lens of 2022, and I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a holiday break filled with peace and joy. It’s been a busy few months here on campus, and I know the holiday season can be hectic as well (albeit in a different way). Amidst the travel, gathering, shopping, and all the other ways we mark this time of year, I hope you can create a few moments of quiet, finding some time for yourself to reflect on 2022 and dream about 2023. 

All my best from my family to yours!

WHAT I’M READING
  • There’s so much to unpack in this lengthy New Yorker review of “Straight Line Crazy,” David Hare’s new play about urban planner Robert Moses. However, what captured my attention was this statement by theatre critic Vinson Cunningham: “Well-meaning citizens seem tired of contending with political bad faith. Why not, then, look to technocratic Caesars like Moses to browbeat the opposition and get things done?” As a progressive educator who values both process and product, I do wonder how we can “get things done” in ways that are both inclusive AND effective—and I refuse to believe that we have to choose between the two. 

WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
  • I'm really bothered by the fact that I never heard of Dorothy Pitman Hughes, co-founder of Ms. Magazine (or even worse, perhaps I have and she hasn't registered in my mind!).  Why haven’t I ever heard of her or associated Ms Magazine with her? Am I alone on this one? 
WHAT I'M WATCHING 
  • The Netflix documentary The Swimmers' is a biographical drama about two sisters who flee Syria.  It is really amazing— a harrowing and beautiful story. There is one particular scene that reminds me of the power of photography, a picture of lifejackets (I won't say more than that) that sums it all up. 

WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE

The U.S. Postal Service just announced that they will honor civil rights giant and former U.S. Rep. the late John Lewis, with a postage stamp next year. Rep. Lewis was one of my favorite lawmakers and I’m thrilled to see him being recognized like this. 

The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.